Passed away peacefully with loved ones by his side on Feb. 11, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Hospice after a long, hard struggle with COPD and emphysema. Richard was born Feb. 15, 1951 in Winnipeg to Marie Pagee. He moved to Thunder Bay in 1986, working for Tees & Persse Brokerage. He went on to work for Culinar, Ouirnent Canyon Water and then Sasi Water. He was an active member of ACT /UCT for 32 years. Beginning in 1995 he and Sharon enjoyed travelling to NASCAR races annually for many years. He also enjoyed woodworking in his work shop for hours on end. Richard is survived by his partner of 35 years, Sharon Haywood Kozak and her daughter Pam (Kozak) Youmans (Daryle) and son George Kozak; son Richard Pylychuk Jr (Tammi, Kari Allard, Frankie Fiorentino); daughter Candice Pylychuk (all of BC); grandchildren Austin Madigan, Jonas and Noah Godin; many cousins and their families and Sharon’s siblings and their families. Richard is predeceased by mother Marie and Joe Lavoie; grandparents Eugene and Emma Pagee and all aunts and uncles, as well as Sharon’s parents Jack and Mabel Haywood. As he wished, there will be no service. His ashes will be interred in Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg with his Mother and Grandmother sometime in the Spring. The family thanks Megan of Ontario Health at Horne; Tammi, Claudia and Julie of ParaMed; all the nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospice and Northwest Funeral Alternative for the kind, compassionate care. Richard’s wishes were any donations in his memory to be made to the Thunder Bay Salvation Army (soup van) by cheque 545 N. Cumberland St., Thunder Bay P7A 4S2 or credit card by calling 807-345-7319.

He is at peace now and will forever be loved and missed.

Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com